Alstom and Intel to work hand-in-hand on future smart grid architecture and security

04/06/2013

Alstom Grid and Intel today signed a global agreement to combine expertise and work together on solutions and technologies for smart grids and smart cities. The focus will be on embedded intelligence and IT systems security to facilitate a fast roll-out of new architectures for future grids. The deal is the fruit of three years’ close collaboration on projects.

Today's electrical networks are evolving towards smart grids, complete with added IT architectures creating ‘intelligence’ with real-time information to manage electricity efficiently and reliably. This allows operators and consumers alike to optimise their use of electricity: from the power-generation through to the end consumers. Such information share – in real-time – paves the way for the integration of renewable energies which are intermittent by nature, and which require real-time monitoring to harness energy when and where it is created.

Patrick Plas, Senior Vice President for Power Electronics & Automation of Alstom Grid, says: "We are very excited to team with Intel to tackle the challenges presented by embedded intelligence and smart grid security, two of the key game-changers for the deployment of future grids. Intel’s subsidiaries McAfee will help us reach our next step in the Smart Grid challenge, with specialised know-how in software solutions for cyber security management and embedded technologies.”

Martin Curley, Vice President and Director, Intel Labs Europe, Intel Corporation adds: "This partnership with Alstom Grid will enable us to seamlessly integrate operational technology (OT) and information technologies (IT) in order to meet the current and future opportunities & challenges in this exciting industry.”

“Collaboration between Alstom and Intel will give the industry the right tools to accelerate adoption and deployment of a secure smart grid. Alstom Grid has well-established credibility in this emerging marketplace and we’re delighted to contribute to their products and prototypes”, says Lorie Wigle, Vice President Security Fabric Program, McAfee.

Embix -a Joint Venture created by Alstom and Bouygues- and Intel Labs Europe, have already joined forces in a research project focusing on ‘Positive–Energy’ districts, entitled ‘COOPERATE’ (Control and Optimization for Energy Positive Neighbourhoods) and funded in the framework of EU’s Seventh Programme for Research. Alstom Grid already participates in over 30 global Smart Grid ‘pilot’ demonstrators across the world. Lessons learned from these projects have already led to concrete changes in control and monitoring architecture designs. The new architectures designs are derived from the latest international interoperability standards in in Europe (CEN-CENELEC-ESI) and NIST in the USA.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over €20 billion and booked close to €24 billion in orders in 2012/13.

Alstom Grid has 130 years of expertise in electrical grids. Whether for utilities or electro-intensive industries or facilitating the trading of energy, Alstom Grid brings power to its customers’ projects. Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in the electrical transmission sector with annual sales of more than €4 billion. It has 19,000 employees and around 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. At the heart of the development of Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chain—from power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.